**Weekly Flash**

November 17, 2025

Dear OHS Families,

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

It was great to see a strong turnout at Friday’s PTA meeting! The work our PTA does for our school is amazing! I was reflecting on what the PTA has done for our students and our community in just the last two weeks: They sponsored a wonderful author’s visit by Alan Katz, after which students and teachers were truly inspired to engage in the writing process! They got the community together for a fun night at the Fairfield Stags women’s basketball game. The PTA is currently running the Turkey Trot Drive, which is teaching students valuable lessons about community service. The Run Club is providing an opportunity for students to build good health habits while having a lot of fun on Friday mornings. The PTA’s Green Team supported our composting efforts in the cafeteria last week and through the pumpkin composting drive, and they are working to help beautify our school in an environmentally friendly manner. In addition, when some OHS families experienced an unexpected cut in food benefits, the PTA partnered with the school to raise a significant amount of money for food in just a couple of days. That is just the last two weeks! Thank you to all of the people who volunteer their time for the PTA and thank you to the community at large for your generosity in helping our OHS families! Your collective efforts are what make our school a very special place.

Please keep the following in mind for this week at OHS:

• Please make sure your SDM is accurate for each day of the week- consider ASA’s.

• Custodial Toy Drive starts today. The custodians are collecting new unwrapped toys. A collection box will be outside the main office.

• Turkey Trot Food Drive continues until Thursday.

• On Thursday, at 9:30 AM, Ms. Colleen Morello will be hosting a Parent Coffee for grade 1 parents on reading. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Colleen by Tuesday, November 18th to cmorello@fairfieldschools.org

• Friday is the end of the 1st Marking Period, and it is an OHS Spirit Day. Get out your spirit wear!

We look forward to another terrific week ahead at OHS! Take care.

Sean F. Smyth, Principal

The Turkey Trot Food Drive to benefit Operation Hope and OHS Families ends this Thursday, November 20th. The classroom with the most items collected will receive a Crumbl Cookie Gift Card! It will culminate with our annual Turkey Trot, a fun run during school hours, where parents are invited to come watch.  We're looking for parent volunteers to cheer on our turkey trotters and provide guidance on the course! Please refer to the course descriptions to choose your volunteer locations.  

Grades K-1 will do a shorter loop starting at the playground in the back. Grades 2-5 will be traveling around the building (starting in the back parking lot). The start is staggered by grade and class, with K-1 starting at 9:20.  Usually, 2nd grade lines up by 9:35, and then 3-5 around 9:50.  Please note these times are not exact, as once we get started, the goal is to keep the classes rolling continuously.    

SIGN UP HERE

Lastly, we are looking for one remaining volunteer to help deliver the cans collected on Friday, November 21st, at 9:30 am. It takes about 2 hours. Larger cars appreciated! Sign up here. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Kate Fierman, Courtney Cataldo and Morgan Marcinek.

Dear FPS Community,

FPS Maintenance and Custodial is proud to host our Annual Holiday Toy Drive once again! Each year, we come together to support organizations and families in our community who are less fortunate and may be struggling during the holiday season.

Our Toy Drive will run through December 19, 2025. Collection boxes will be outside the main office.

Thank you for your continued generosity and support in making the holidays brighter for those in need!

Warm regards,
FPS Maintenance and Custodial Team

The office is compiling an email list of incoming KDG students for the Fall of 2026. Please email TBudlowski@fairfieldschools.org with your future KDG student’s first and last name, date of birth, and the preschool they attend so they can be added to the list to receive future information about registration, etc.

Thanks to your incredible generosity throughout the fall and during the Harvest Jam, we are happy to share that the PTA will be funding this year’s initiative to support Operation Hope. Instead of requesting donations, we’ll be using these funds to provide meals for individuals and families in need this holiday season.

Please join OHS parents as we decorate a 12-inch wreath, complete with pinecones, statice, berries, glass ornaments, boxwood, eucalyptus, magnolia leaves, starfish, dried pods, and more! A handmade beautiful bow will complete your creation!

Class fee includes:

- instructions

- 12” ring size fresh green balsam wreath

-beautiful decorations

-your very own handmade bow

Cost is $79.76 per person (includes taxes)

*Attendees must fill out THIS FORM, including all their information and bow choice! Please fill this out at least 2 days before your class. If you don't choose a bow, you will have to pick from the surprise box of bows!

Osborn Hill Elementary School

760 Stillson Road

Fairfield, CT 06824

www.ohspta.com